Community Corner
It's Red Kettle Season! Where Do Salvation Army Donations Go in Royal Oak?
Donations collected in Royal Oak stay in the area for programs and services helping those in need.
One of the most recognizable and important charitable campaigns in the United States — the Salvation Army's annual Red Kettle Campaign — has kicked off in Royal Oak. But did you know all donations collected in Royal Oak during the holiday season stay in the area to help provide programs and services all year long?
9 ways your Red Kettle donation is used in town
"If people are down on their luck, they are still God's creation so we figure out what we can do to help them," said Capt. Peter Mount of the Salvation Army Royal Oak Citadel. "We talk a lot of transformation. It's not just, 'Here's a helping hand.' No, it's full transformation and not just in your life but in your family's life as well."
Here are just a few examples of services the Royal Oak Corps provide with your Red Kettle donations:
- Approximately 500 families receive a Thanksgiving dinner courtesy of the Salvation Army Royal Oak Corps. The Citadel, located at 3015 N. Main St., has a huge storage room filled with boxes of food items ready for distribution next week.
- There's also a distribution for Christmas, which includes food and toys, too. Food and toys are donated directly or collected via drives.
- A special area of the pantry is designated with items for the homeless, which has foods that do not require the use of a kitchen to prepare.
- From January to March, the citadel provides overnight accommodations, clothing items, if needed, and showers for 25 men seven days a week.
- The Royal Oak Corps provides financial assistance programs that help with utility bills and rent.
- A back-to-school program provides area students with needed school supplies — from backpacks to pencils.
- Help is available for every age group — from baby formula to after school programs for kids to special trips and programs for the elderly.
- Scholarships for youth character building programs, such as the SAL Youth Basketball League or summer camps for children, are available for families in need.
- The Salvation Army offers a program called Pathway of Hope for families that have at least one child under the age of 18. The program offers holistic and spiritual guidance as well as job training, health services, legal services housing options and more.
"If somebody comes to our door and says, 'Hey, we've hit a financial hardship, we really could use some food this month.' We will serve them," Mount said. "But our Pathway of Hope program touches more than just 'Hey, I'm coming in for a food box.' It speaks holistically. If someone just lost their job, we don't just ask ourselves how we can serve them a food box. We try to help get them back on their feet. It's great to see people, but we want success stories."
Mount is also working very hard with the Royal Oak Pastoral Association to coordinate pantries around the city.
"The idea is to be able to direct clients and fill needs," Mount said. "For example, we may not have fresh fruit here and another church may not have formula. We are working on collaboration to get people the items they need."
How you can help
Gifts of money, toys or food are always welcome. Eight-five cents of every dollar goes to programs. Click here to donate.
"We use everything that comes our way for programs and services," Mount said.
Volunteers are also needed. The Royal Oak Corps is looking for people to help load Thanksgiving food boxes into clients' vehicles on Nov. 25-26. You can sign up online.
And, of course, volunteers are needed through Dec. 24, except on Sundays, to ring bells at Red Kettle locations. You can sign up for shifts at ringbell.org or by calling 248-477-1153, ext. 12.
Here's where you can stand a post in Royal Oak:
- Walgreens – 30852 Woodward Ave.
- Holiday Market – 1203 S. Main St.
- Hollywood Market – 714 N. Main St.
- Kroger – 3389 N. Woodward Ave.
- Post Office – 200 W. 2nd St.
- Emagine Theater – 200 N. Main St.
- Walgreens – 1815 Rochester Rd
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